Arc'teryx Bora 80

Average Rating4.50 / 5 (2 reviews)

The pack is very adjustable, which is nice, but I'd like the shoulder straps to be a little closer together on a woman's bag. I'm 5'6" and 150, (not a small woman) and I had to wear the chest strap to keep the shoulder straps in place.

Waterproof fabric and zippers kept my gear from getting wet when a waterbottle in the outside front compartment leaked, however, he bottom isn't rubberized, so don't sit the bag in a puddle.

I carried 30lbs on a weekend overnight trip, and I think the bag could easily hold the 50lb max for someone of my size.

My only real complaint is that there aren't many pockets: there are two elastic pockets that barely hold water bottles, and there is the detachable fanny/daypack that is the only place you can securely put small personal items.

Overall, it's a nice bag. I paid $250 used and I'm happy with that, but I don't think I would have paid nearly $400 to have the pack new.

I almost feel silly for giving such a heavy pack a five star rating. But, anyone that has shouldered a Bora 80 knows that this pack is a workhorse. Put together to stay together. Additionally, though I have not yet tried a high dollar custom load hauler, I cannot believe that any pack can carry a 50-80 lb. load the way this one did for over six years. Of course I don't carry that kind of weight anymore, since I found the wisdom and joy of "backpacking light".

Plenty of space. Heavy duty zippers. Straps that simply refuse to fray or fail. This pack is bombproof. Drop it on the ground, drag it through the brush, scrape it on granite ledges... It takes the beating and asks for more. I have never owned another pack with a belt that even came close to carrying its load so comfortably on the hips. No rolling or chaffing and it still rides as well now, as it did the day I bought it.

An 80 liter pack, there is plenty of space for long trips and decent organization with a top pocket, a dividable sleeping bag compartment, an internal sleeve, a nice long zipper pocket on the front that holds a large bladder or a wet tent equally well, and one heavy duty pocket on each side that holds anything from a full size nalgene, to a large bag of gorp, to the bottom of your tent poles or fishing pole.

All of this comes at a substantial price though. This monster weighs 6 lbs. + 13 ounces, empty. The only way I'd ever carry this thing again, would be if I needed something that would hold up for weeks at a time, with loads consistently over 50 lbs. Shy of the apocalypse, it's likely to stay in the closet from here on out.

However, if you are one of those big,young, strong bulls that wants to take along the kitchen sink and doesn't mind humping 50-70 lbs. of gear, this one will get you there and back, again and again. It's the only pack I've ever owned that will certainly outlive me.